Block-molding device



7 Feb. 16 1926.

' 1,573,336 F. VAN ANDEN v BLOCK MOLDING DEVICE Filed Sept. 18, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 16 1926.

F. VAN ANDE N BLOCK MOLDING DEVICE 7 fl Q m M. w w i a a J J w W 2 1 m m @W & \b V w i L j m 1 w w 9 m 1 U m M fl Patented Feb. 16, 1926.

FRANK VAN ANDEN, OF MIAMI, FLORIDA.

BLOCK-MOLDING DEVICE.

Application filed September 18, 1925. Serial No. 57,120.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, FRANK VAN Annmt, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Miami, county of Dade, and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Block-Molding Devices, of. which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to block molding device having for its primary object to provide means of simplified and improved construction and operation for the production of concrete building blocks or tiles.

A further object is to provide mechanical means whereby concrete blocks or tiles may be molded and in which operation the exposed surfaces or walls of the blocks or tiles are glazed or surfaced in'a manner similar to'troweling operations.

A further object is to provide a mold box, pallet and tamper of improved construction, as more fully hereinafter will appear, forthe production of building blocks or tiles of the character above described.

Withthese objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangements of' parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tamper embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the mold box showing the cores arranged therein,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the pallet removed from the box,

Fig. d is a transverse sectional view taken through the pallet,

Fig. 5 isa similar view taken longitudin ally through the pallet.

Fig. (3 is a longitudinal sectional view tale en. through the mold box, tamper and pallet illustrating the assemblage of these elements'andshowing therein a block partly formed,

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken through the structure represented in Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of a tamper,

Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the tamper shown in Fig. 8, and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a cement block produced by the improved molding device.

It is well known that troweling operations upon concrete, cement or similar materials produces a film, coating, or shell which hardens or sets into a protective water proof or water resisting covering or coating which is highly desirable. It has heretofore been found impossible to produce such a coating or shell in block molding or wall forming processes without the manual troweling operation, and it is an important obj ect of the present invention to mechanically form blocks or tiles with this shell or coating effect without resorting to the manual troweling operation.

It is furthermore contemplated to sim plify the construction of the several mold parts so that the same may be effectively used at a great economy of time as well as at a saving of material and manual labor. Such results are accomplished by the means and operations now to be more fully set forth.

The mold in the present instance is designed for the production of hollow blocks or tiles of rectangular formation, and comprises a box represented generally at 11. This box will be of the desired length and breadth and is open at its top and bottom. The mold box is provided with any desired number of cores 12, two being shown in the present instance. These cores are 0t su able size, and it is important that the side walls thereof be parallel and evenly spaced from the alls of the mold box and from each other.

Associated with the mold box is a pallet 13. This pallet is of a size conforming to the length and breadth of the mold box, and is to be inserted in the latter; suitable, small clearance being allowed for convenience in insertion and removal of the pallet. The side and end bars of the pallet are of a breadth substantially equal to the distance between the inner surfaces of the bot-1 walls and the adjacent faces of the cores, so that openings 14 are provided in the pallet of a size to properly accommodate the cores.

The side and end bars of the pallet are of such construction that the upper faces thereof correspond to the width of the mold a is cleared from the channels, but the lower or supporting edges thereof are of restricted breadth. This is so that the pallet may cut its way tl'irough the matter, such as: softfcement or other plastic which may have accumulated upon themold support, to insure firm setting and proper levelling of the pallet. Inthe present instance, therefore, the side and end bars of the pallet are of triangular shape in e NESS- section, with the bases of the triangles disposed uppermost. of the triangles to be disposed downwardly, providing knife edges 15. ll' hil'e this is the preferred formation of the pallet bars, it is obvious that slight variations therein may be effectively employed. The triangular construction, furthermore, produces acute angles where the sides of the triangles join the base, whereby knife edges are thus pro duced. Such edges enable stiff cement and other matter accumulated thereon to beeffectively removed by simplified methods and at a great saving of time and labor, and in practice it has been found that such matter pallet edges in the mserting operation.

- Oneform oftamper for use in the production of concrete blocks or tiles is shown in Fig. 1. Thistamper, 16 conforms. to the shape and arrangement of the channels within the mold so as to snugly fit therein, and is equippediwith an operating standard orv handle indicated at 17 In operation, the carrier 18., is placed within the mold box, whereupon the pallet is inserted and'rests upon the carrier. The cores protrudethrough the openings 14' of the pallet, as will be understood. The plastic mixture is then poured into the channels of the mold and the tamper is operated to v firmly press the same down into the channels. This is carried out by vertical-reciprocations or poundings of the tamper in the usual manner. hen the mold has been filled and the tamping operationhas firmly walls of the block or tile is performed. By

reason of the fact that a high degree of pressure is maintainedupon the plastic matter within the mold during its operation of stripping, and as this pressure continues due to the core and mold-walls beng parallel with each other throughout the stripping; operation, the outer and inner surfaces of the block or tile aresmoothed'oftf so as to form the highly desirable shellor coating heretofore accomplished only by-manual trowel- This causes the ZLPQXGS L57asse ing. It is important that the mold and core Walls be parallel, so that the troweling or smoothing ofl' effect may be produced til'iroughout the entire stripping operation. In this strippingoperation, upward pressure is applied to the carrier 18, whereby the palletand carriertra-vel upwardly to strip the block or tile from the mold box at the same time high degree of pressure is maintained upon the plastic material.

A modiiied' and improved form of tamper is shown in Fig. 8, wherein the same is formed in three sections, 19, and 21. These sections, when assembled, correspond substantially to the layout of. the mold channels and each is equipped with an operating bar or rod 1?. This tamper is operated that the sections thereof work alternately, to cause a'inore even distribution of the plastie mixture within the mold and totightly compress the plastic mixture against the walls of the box and the cores. By the use of such a tamper, it is obvious that regardless of' where the bull; of: plastic mixture is placed within the mold; it willbe'evened out and properly distributed in the alternate operations of the several tamper sections.

In Fig. 10 there is illustrated a block pr duced by a mold device in accordance with the invention. Such blocks may be laid on top of each other, in alternate relation or.

side by side. In instances where it is advisable to tie the blocks together with iron or steel bars, the edges of the blocks may be recessed as represented at 22,"for th'e accommodation of. such tie rods. Grouting may be'poured into the openings. in the assembled blocks to anchorthem' to the foundationand to each other. 7

It has been found that blocks or tiles constructed in accordance with my method.

and apparatus may be made with walls considerably'thinner than in blocks o'fllike nature produced by other operations.v Thus it will be seen that my blocks or tiles are produced at a great saving of material, and.

blocks of comparatively light \veight' yet capable of withstanding greatpressures are provided The increased degree of strength inherent in, blocks of my construction is due to the skin or coatingeffect upon both,

the interior and exterior surfacesof the blocks or tiles. When such coatinghasbecome set or hardened, great rigidity is present in theblock.

From theforegoing it is apparent that I have provided a concrete block apparatus and method of extremely simple constructionand yet which willeffectively operate in the accomplishment of the several objects set forth. While the foregoing isadescription of the invention in its preferred embodiment, it isnevertheless understood'that variations in the size, shape and proportion of the parts, as"v well as the details of construction thereof, may be liberally resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a mold box, a pallet removably arranged in said box, cores protruding through said pal.- let, the edges of said pallet engaging said box and cores presenting acute angles, and a knife edge supporting said pallet.

2. In a device of the class described, a pallet for mold boxes comprising a plate corresponding in size and shape with the interior of said box, the said plate having core openings therein, the portions of said plate engaging said box and the cores comprising knife edges, and a relatively sharp rib depending from said plate and supporting the latter.

In a device of the class described, a pallet for mold boxes comprising a plate corresponding in size and shape with the interior of the box, said plate having core openings, and the several portions of said plate being triangular in cross-section with the bases of the triangles disposed uppermost.

4-. In a device of the class described, a mold box, cores in said box, a sectional tamper, the assembled section of said tamper corresponding With the shape and size of the channels between said cores and box, and the said sections adapted to be operated alternately.

5 In a device of the class described, a mold box open at its top and bottom, a pallet ren'iovably engaged in the bottom of said box, cores in said box protruding through said pallet and spaced from the Walls of said box, and a sectional tamper, the assembled sections of said tamper conforming to the spaces between said cores and box and adapted to be operated alternately.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK VAN ANDEN. 

